Nightfall

In the Blizzard-Covered Skies, Western Equestria

"Are you certain we're headed the right way?!" A female voice shouted from the swirling darkness.

"I'm pretty sure..." Stormstrike responded loudly then muttered to himself, "but I'm starting to hope I'm wrong." The ink-black pegasus scraped his goggles with a hoof and peered into the winter storm to look for his companion. Though she sounded close enough to touch, he couldn't spot her through the cloudy veil. "Cyclone, try to stay next to me. It's getting too hard to see anything in this mess and I don't want us to get separated."

Almost appearing from the clouds, the outline of a pegasus shifted into a tighter formation, the frost coating her silver armor and light-pink coat making her look nearly as white as her mane. "Storm... You know I'd follow you anywhere - even into this crazy weather - but I don't think I'll be able to stay in flight much longer." Cyclone said loudly and moved forward to display her frozen wings. "Even my feathers are freezing up."

Pursing his lips, Stormstrike gave a single nod. His onyx armor had been enchanted to help protect him from the frigid winds, but this storm was unusual - possibly even magical in nature - and was worse than any blizzard he had ever seen. Like Cyclone's, his own wings were starting to become coated in ice as well and because of it he could barely maintain a steady glide on the erratic air. Determined not to give up just yet, he looked to the silver necklace clasped in his hoof and saw the the glow of its red, purple and pink gems intensify. "Maybe we won't have to stay up here much longer! It's glowing brighter!"

Cyclone slid back the goggle over her left eye and gave Stormstrike a questioning side glance.  “This seems like an awfully strange place for a princess, don't ya think?”

“I can't say I disagree, but we've been in this cloud cover for so long I can't even say where we are," he said as he glanced once more to the element of harmony then back to Cyclone. "For whatever reason this is where the element lead us. She has to be close.”

Cyclone popped the goggle back over her eye. “Well, I sure hope that thing isn't taking us on some sorta wild bird cha-” She cut herself short and tilted her head, her ice-encrusted ears shifting as she listened intensely. "Hey... what is that?”

Stormstrike looked about but aside from endless speckles of snow he couldn't see anything through the dark clouds. Instead, he heard what he briefly thought was thunder. Then he heard it again... and again... and again. It was repeating, like the air burst of massive wings and it was growing louder. His heart raced as he realized what it was. Before he could shout a warning, it was already too close.

Cyclone cried out as a scaled claw larger than her body emerged from the cloudy darkness and enveloped her like a bladed-cage. Stormstrike tucked in his left wing and let the drag of his right make him cut sharply and dodge as the same claw tried to snatch him up as well. As he spun, he watched as the full body of the largest red dragon he had ever seen appeared from the dark haze, its eyes shining with an unnatural purple glow.

He gripped the element of harmony with all his strength and went into a full dive. Thunder crackled as he emerged from the thick cloud cover and though he was relieved to be able to see clearly once again his stomach turned as he saw the area below. He peered across the lava pools and rocky terrain stretching out in every direction and now knew exactly where he was. Smokey Mountain... Right over the home of those lizards, he thought and grit his teeth.

Panicked screams filled the rushing wind in his ears. He knew the only way to save Cyclone would be to put some distance between himself and the beast so he'd have room to maneuver, but as he glanced behind him, all hope of out-flying it left his thoughts. The massive dragon had also turned into a dive and was almost upon him, the maw of its snake-like head opened wide.

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Throne Room, Canterlot Castle

"Princess? Um... Did you hear me?” Stopping short of clearing her throat, the light-blue unicorn blew a hair from her face then straightened her glasses. The tight weave of her hair bun was starting to come apart from all of her fidgeting, and she made a mental-note never to wear this hairstyle again, at least not on a sure-to-be-stressful day - or a STaBS day, as she preferred to call them. Cursing her inability to not have every out-of-place detail bother her, quickly she brushed away a few more loose strands of her velvety black bangs behind her ear, all the while hoping for Princess Celestia's attention to quickly return.

"Oh... I'm very sorry." Celestia finally turned and gave an apologetic nod to her royal adviser. "I just..." The princess looked across the massive dome-like throne room, her attention now residing on the empty silver and blue throne of her sister. "Have much on my mind."

A twinge of guilt hit Calligraphy as she followed Celestia's gaze. "That's completely understandable." Uncertain what else to add, she held her breath a moment then decided to continue on with the daily brief. "Well, there was just one more major detail I wanted to clear with you about the festival tomorrow-"

"It's been twenty-three days since Luna was last here..." Celestia spoke up abruptly, her voice soft and distant.

Though the princess had worked hard to keep things in order, she had clearly grown distraught over the past week. Calligraphy's shoulders slumped as she tried to understand what Celestia might be feeling. At the very least, she knew she had to say something. Trying to select her words carefully, she magically removed her glasses and briefly closed her eyes. "I've never had a sister... or, well, any siblings for that matter... so I cannot even begin to imagine what you're going through." Feeling awkward for trying to console the princess, she took a moment to distract herself by looking to the various statues on display in the throne room. When were those last cleaned? Ever? I'll have somepony from maintenance... Gah, not now! - focus Calli, she mentally scolded herself and looked to the princess. "Um, Your Highness... What I'm trying to say is... I know you can't help worrying, but keep in mind there's been just as many nights as there have been days. Princess Luna's out there, somewhere. Besides, you told me leaving was her choice... and whatever that reason may have been, I'm sure she'll return once she's ready."

There was a long pause and the vast chamber of the throne room had become eerily quiet. After what felt like an eternity, Celestia finally nodded and gave a tiny smile. "Thank you, I'm certain you're right." Taking a moment to wipe her eyes, she continued. "And... I must apologize once more for interrupting you earlier. What was the last detail you wanted to discuss?"

Thankful to move on to another topic, Calligraphy perked up. Quickly returning her glasses to her face, she used her magic to bring her clipboard close so she could look over a few details. "Um, let's see... decorations, covered... armor requisitions... no, no..." Somewhat flustered she had lost her place, she tapped her chin until she found her marker then smiled. "Oh, city security! Because of the amount of attendees expected at tomorrow's festival, the military and your royal guard have been heavily overburdened. For the next couple of days, I've requested a portion of the soldiers from the outlying towns to return and help within the city. They should be arriving by train today."

Celestia nodded and began to say something, but a sudden loud knock at the throne room doors interrupted her. Almost as sudden as the knock, the massive wooden doors opened inwards and a unicorn royal guard in his full golden armor rushed inside.

"Your Highness!" The guard spoke loudly and kneeled.

Princess Celestia moved down the steps of her throne and stood beside Calligraphy, her mane flowing like a liquid rainbow from the sudden stop. "What is it? Has something happened?"

"Your Highness... it's Princess Luna's chambers! The guards assigned to its entrance were just found unconscious!"

The orange magic keeping the clipboard suspended in the air flickered as Calligraphy nervously looked to Celestia. The princess was unmoving and aside from her endlessly flowing mane and tail looked almost like a statue. Suddenly, the princess's eyes closed. "Were my sister's chambers entered?"

The guard slowly raised his head. "I cannot say, Your Highness... Something magical protects the room and nopony has dared go near the door. And... while it might be nothing, there's one more thing."

Calligraphy moved forward, barely gaining the courage to speak. "What else?"

"It's unconfirmed but we fear this may be related..." The royal guard swallowed and looked to Calligraphy, his brow furrowed in concern. "There's also a guard missing that was on night duty. A search has just begun for him."

"Please let us know as soon as you've found out more." Celestia spoke up and nodded. "For now, please escort me to Luna's chambers. I need to see what's happened personally."

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Smokey Mountain's Peak

The sound of sputtering lava did little to stir Stormstrike awake, but the putrid scent of sulfur and burning coal made him cough loudly and warily open his eyes. With a groan, he slid his cracked, dirt-coated goggles on top of his helmet. He found himself laying upon dusty, charred earth and as his vision began to clear, he noticed a thin stream of lava had made its way from one pool to another almost side-by-side with him. Seeing his hind-leg was too close to the liquid stone, he woozily stood to move away only to find himself right along a cliff's edge. With his wings partially spread for balance, he flicked his tail nervously and took a step back.

"Where... Am I?" He whispered softly to himself and looked about. In response, a deep roll of thunder rumbled overhead. The winter storm blanketed the sky and aside from the orange glow of lava pools and volcanic fissures the entire area was dark as night. Trying to remember how he had gotten here, his stomach tightened as a sense of fear overwhelmed him. In a panic he whirled to look in every direction. "Cyclone! Where are... you-?!"

Instantly the pink pegasus appeared beside him, almost as if the acrid smoke and her were one and the same. Cyclone gave her usual crooked smile and slid back her goggles. "I'm right here... it's about time you woke up."

In total disbelief, Stormstrike rubbed his eyes. "What... how did you get away? Are you alright?!" He rushed forward to touch her but his hoof passed through her body, making her vanish once more into a swirling dark mist. Trembling, he held his foreleg outward, hoping somehow she'd return.

"She was merely a shadow given form," a feminine voice spoke aloud from behind him. "And her usefulness has come to an end."

With a loud crackle, the electrified sky rippled with blue lightning. Echoing thunder sent tremors through the earth as Stormstrike turned, his eyes widening at what he saw.

Princess Luna spread her wings making the thick smoke part from her, the purple luminance of her horn fading to darkness as she moved forward. Beside her, the element of harmony floated lazily in the air, as if gravity had no effect upon it.

"Princess?" Quickly he lowered his head in a formal bow then looked to her in disbelief. "Is it... really you?"

The princess stood quietly, but merely the tilt of her head made Stormstrike stop short of saying more. Slowly she tucked her wings to her side, her blue eyes strikingly bright amidst the darkness. "I am impressed you made the full trip here... even if it did require some assistance."

"But... I don't understand? It was Princess Celestia that asked... this of..." He oddly felt like he was lying and his voice drifted off as he looked about in confusion. His throat felt dry and raw, he quickly coughed to clear it then continued. "We were supposed to use the element to find you!"

"Is that so?" Luna smirked briefly, quickly replaced by a snarl. "My sister is nothing but a foal, but never would she allow my element to be taken from the city. To do so required finding somepony suitable - one that could be controlled and slip away unnoticed," for a moment, her expression softened. "And you, my dear little pony, were easily persuaded to suit my needs."

Stormstrike shook his head once but he couldn't speak. He couldn't believe what he was hearing but the guilt writhing in his gut confirmed it was true.

"It was almost pitiful, really... But at least you proved effective," Luna motioned a hoof at Stormstrike. "And because of you, I can finally move forward with my plans."

He struggled to stand straight and took a shallow breath. His strength had left him. "What... have you made me do?!"

"You imply I forced you to do this?" Luna gazed coldly at him. "I simply opened your heart to what you truly desired - Cyclone, I believe her name was? A fellow guard, no less - and you jumped at the chance to bring me what I required." Turning ever slightly, her attention now lingered on the element of harmony magically hovering next to her.

For a brief moment Stormstrike felt his heart surge and the blood boil in his veins. He had never been so angry, but he grit his teeth to try and suppress it. "Whatever your reasons... it doesn't matter... The important thing for now is I've found you! Princess Celestia will want you returned to the castle!"

Luna's jaw clenched and her head lowered aggressively. Stormstrike swallowed as he noticed the spouts of lava reflected brightly upon her silver armor. To him, the princess of the night looked like living fire. "That's what my sister wants, does she?"

Stormstrike took a step back as he heard deep laughter from multiple sources he couldn't see. Beyond the smoke, his eyes could barely make out what looked like dark outlines of massive figures, the glimmer of purple energy glowing brightly in their eyes.

"You look fearful... but calm yourself, I still have need of you yet." Luna pointed a foreleg his direction. "You were the last of my nightguard, Stormstrike. Not long ago, my sister had decided she wanted it to be part of her royal guard... and so, over time, one by one, every member of my elite guard were taken from me... And now, you are the only remaining pony to still wear that armor."

"I... I don't understand? What is it you need me to do?" Stormstrike nervously asked.

"Despite your flaws, you still exhibit an invaluable trait - loyalty. Because of that, you will have the honor of returning to the city and announcing my return." Luna's fiery gaze remained, but there was now a hint of respect in her voice.

Stormstrike blinked, disbelieving what he had just heard. "Are you certain? I'd be honored... And I'm sure they'll be relieved-"

"It seems you misunderstand, so allow me to give you clarity..." Luna's horn flared with amethyst, the surge of power fully parting the smoke of the area in a blast of heated air. Her magic created a field of energy around Stormstrike that pinned his wings and slowly lifted him from the ground. "Look around... allow my intentions to sink in fully. I assure you, unlike your precious Cyclone, my pets are not illusions."

He gasped from the power crushing him but more so of what he saw behind Luna. The glowing eyes he had seen earlier belonged to easily fifty or more dragons of various sizes, all of them clearly controlled by the princess's magic. Amongst them, the monstrous red dragon that had chased him before towered above them all. "You're... going to attack Canterlot?"

Luna waved a foreleg, the motion bringing Stormstrike close. "Attack? No, no. You have it all wrong." She smirked but her eyes narrowed dangerously. "I'm going to reduce it to ash."

"Why? Why would you do this? It's your ho-home?" He breathlessly spoke. The magic had crushed nearly all of the air from his lungs and it wouldn't be long before he'd fall unconscious. "You're a prin-cess... of... Eques-tria. You can't-can't do this!"

"As I am now... I am a princess of nothing." Tears welled in Luna's eyes as she turned away. "So very few care for my glorious night..."  She motioned to the element of harmony and released the spell on Stormstrike, sending him collapsing hard onto the charred soil. "That will soon change... but first, I must strip my sister of her strength - and that includes taking from her the city she loves so dearly."

Stormstrike coughed and struggled to get to his hooves. "Please, Your Highness! Please don't do this! I'm the only one that knows what happened here... I'll tell nopony, not a soul! Just..." he gasped for air and shook his head, feeling overwhelmed. "Come home peacefully!"

"It's much too late for that." Luna plucked the element of harmony from the air and spread her wings, but held a moment to look at him. Tears trailed down her cheeks. "Return to Canterlot... Tell them... tell my sister, come next nightfall, her precious home will be no more."